SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) announced today that Sharon McCollam
has retired from the company and will also retire from the company’s
Board of Directors on March 16, 2012.

Laura Alber, the company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said,
“On behalf of the board and senior management team, I want to thank
Sharon for her many contributions over the last 12 years. She has been a
highly influential cross-functional leader with a key focus on
company-wide financial and operational disciplines, and we wish her well
in her future endeavors.”

McCollam said, “For over 10 years, I have had the privilege of working
for one of the greatest companies in the world. Over that time, it has
grown from $1 billion to $4 billion in revenues, launched iconic new
brands, and become one of the largest internet retailers in America. But
what I will remember the most of my time at Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is
the pride I have felt working with one of the most talented and
inspiring teams in retail. The organization is deep in tenure and I
leave knowing that it has never been as well-positioned as it is today
to take its multi-channel strategies to the next level. I would like to
thank my incredible team of so many years for their personal dedication
and extraordinary contributions to the company’s success. I would also
like to thank Laura, our board, and our shareholders for their many
years of support.”

The company also announced that Julie Whalen, SVP, Corporate Controller
and Treasurer, will serve as the Acting Chief Financial Officer. Whalen
joined Williams-Sonoma, Inc. in 2001 as a leader in the Financial
Planning organization and was promoted to Vice President, Corporate
Controller in 2003. In 2011, she assumed the additional role of
Treasurer. Whalen began her career in public accounting with KPMG Peat
Marwick. She is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a law degree
from Pepperdine University.

“I have the utmost confidence in Julie’s leadership as the Acting Chief
Financial Officer,” said McCollam. “Julie has been my strategic partner
since the day she joined the company in 2001. Her expertise and
leadership skills have taken the company’s financial disciplines to new
levels and, most recently, she has spearheaded the financial and tax
aspects of our business development and global-expansion strategies.”